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Loch Ness holiday pods get the green light from Highland Council local amid traffic concerns and fears that native woodland could be lost


By Scott Maclennan

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Artist's impression of the Ancarraig holiday pods.
Artist's impression of the Ancarraig holiday pods.

FIVE new holiday pods are to be created near Drumnadrochit.

James Munday successfully applied for planning permission to create the new visitor accommodation at Bunloit, along with a replacement reception building and associated car parking.

All the pods are single storey with low pitched roofs, mounted on timber posts to raise them above the ground level and with an area of decking surrounding them.

The application was agreed subject to more conditions at Highland Council’s south planning applications committee.

Objections from neighbours included fears about a possible loss of native woodland and habitat, visibility of the pods from Bunloit Road and Great Glen Way, as well as traffic concerns.

Planning officers, however, recommended approval.

Keith Gibson, the council’s south area planning manager, said: “The development will help to modestly expand, consolidate and secure the economic viability of the existing tourist business at the site.

"The proposal is considered to be acceptable in terms of siting and design and is sympathetic to existing patterns of development in the area.”

Councillor Margaret Davidson sought increased developer contributions to maintain infrastructure.

She said: “This road is really not up to it. The bottom of the hill has hairpin bends on it. The piece after the depot is really, really steep.

“So I am just keen that we take a little more money off these folk, good folk though they are, to do some more road improvements. (Just) lengthening a layby is not going to do it at all.”


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